Good karma twice-over

MANILA, Philippines - It was the 2009 box-office hit Kimmy Dora that launched Eugene Domingo to top-billing status. Three years later — and several projects in between that have certified Eugene as a major draw both on the big and small screens — Eugene is back as Kimmy and Dora in Kimmy Dora & The Temple of Kiyeme, opening in theaters nationwide on June 13. 

The sequel finds the identical twins, who are polar opposites of each other, trying to make sense of eerie happenings in their lives. Their father Don Luisito Go Dong Hae (Ariel Ureta) reckons these are caused by “karma” over a broken promise.

Rewind to many years ago, Don Luisito gives up an arranged marriage with a woman of Korean descent for Kimmy and Dora’s mother. Now, that woman is dead, and he feels that the sudden hauntings have something to do with it. He can’t help but think that the twins may have to pay the price by way of an arranged marriage.

But the twins themselves are on the verge of happily ever-after — Kimmy with Barry (Zanjoe Marudo) and Dora with Johnson (Dingdong Dantes). And so begins the conflict that takes them all the way to South Korea, as the lives of the twins take a comedy-horror turn in the follow-up film under Spring Films and Star Cinema, still written by Chris Martinez and still directed by Joyce Bernal. 

Eugene, whose recent accolades include being named Favorite Actress at the Asian Film Awards last March for Ang Babae Sa Septic Tank, said that she still couldn’t believe that Kimmy Dora sequel has finally materialized.

“We never thought we would do a sequel because three years have already passed since the first Kimmy Dora. I mean we could have decided on doing something else, but wherever I would go, I always get asked when we are coming up with a Kimmy Dora 2. But we had to wait for the right time for Chris Martinez to write the script.”

Chris had to come up with two concepts for direk Joyce, and it took some time for the lady director to be convinced that horror-comedy would make the best genre for the sequel.

Eugene said, “We cannot do something very similar to the first film, neither can we do something that was lesser than that. Nung (pumasa) na kay direk Joyce yung concept, wow! I think the combination of Chris and direk Joyce is Kimmy Dora.”

The film was partly shot in South Korea. According to a report posted on korea.com, it was the Korean National Tourism Organization that enticed the producers to film Kimmy Dora there. The 10-day shooting took place early this year at famous landmarks in the capital of Seoul such as Gwanghwamun Plaza, Cheonggyecheon, Myeongdong and Seoul Tower.

According to Eugene, it was no laughing matter shooting in South Korea. Since it was the peak of winter, the temperature was several degrees below zero. She recounted that they had to employ portable heater for the feet, face and the cameras, one of which conked out.

“It was tough! Siguro po pag may isang nagsabi, ‘Direk, di ko na po kaya,’ sasama talaga ako,” laughed direk Joyce in recollection. 

“Tatahimik nalang kami lahat at kakapit sa isa’t isa. Bumiyahe tayo, commitment ito, magdasal nalang tayo. (I’d tell myself) ‘Wag kang umarte, bihis ka nalang sa tabi-tabi,’” Eugene added. “Doing Kimmy and Dora was really exhausting. It was like doing my last movie. Minsan talaga parang (napaisip ako na) nakakaiyak naman ito! But the company was great. The cast, the director, the producers trusted (me), and so many people helped. And that gave me energy.”

“Siguro kung nag-inarte si Eugene baka bumagsak yung film. She was the film’s main source of energy,” Joyce stressed.

Since one of the story arcs involves the romantic escapades of the twins, Eugene was asked how it felt to be paired with such hunks as Dingdong and Zanjoe.

 “They are so good at comedy, even if they’re more known as dramatic actors. Are there kissing scenes? Of course! They’re necessary. Besides, I am of age to do those things,” she related, obviously tongue-in-cheek. “And wala silang ka malisya-malisya sa akin. They treated me like a stuff toy. So I was focused.”

Zanjoe playfully countered with — “of course, there was malice (in the kissing scene)” — a statement that elicited more juicy questions. 

To which Eugene jokingly reacted: “Yan, ang dami kong paliwanag tungkol sa cameras, commitment pero (dahil sa sagot ni Zanjoe) wala na ako sa title ng article nyo. Tama na yan! Nagka Favorite Asian Actress award na ako, nag-blazer pa ako. Tapos di na ako title sa article. Wala bang Asian Actress question dyan?”

Trust Eugene to effortlessly turn a presscon into a riot.

Where does Eugene get her sense of humor? “For me, this is really a gift from God. But I do come from a family of weird people... ma-drama so I must have inherited this talent from them.”

Eugene was first exposed to the acting rudiments as a Theater Arts student at UP Diliman. It was during her college years when she met Chris, her bestfriend. “He wrote plays for me, then first short film niya for a competition was for me. My TVCs are usually directed by him. Ang sarap isipin, di nagkahiwalay ang landas namin even after school.”

Eugene was able to sharpen her craft through multiple roles in theater productions — from props crew, cast, stage manager, to producer.

On TV and in the movies, she started out as a bit player before becoming perennial sidekick, mostly to comedienne Ai-Ai delas Alas.

But the sidekick would become such a solid scene-stealer, making award-giving bodies sit up and take notice. Then in 2009, Spring Films, which also counts Piolo Pascual as among its producers, gave Eugene her then biggest break as lead star of Kimmy Dora.

Now, with so many good things that continue to come her way, we asked Eugene if she believes all these are due to good karma.

“Yes, I believe so. And also it’s destiny and timing. Timing is everything. But really success is sweeter if it is at the right time. You really have to wait for it. And prayers, prayers, prayers! Hindi mo talaga ma-kokontra anong gusto ng Panginoon para sa ‘yo.”

Eugene, who will soon make a theater comeback via the stage version of the Nora Aunor film Bona, has this advice to newbies, especially those caught up in a mad rush to gain fame: “Stay calm. Yes, we have to be committed to everything…‘Wag kang tatanggi pagbaguhan ka. Pagbutihan niyo muna ang trabaho niyo bago kayo magsikat-sikatan. Time will come when you will have the best options and that things that you deserve will be given to you because you are very reliable.”